White-Collar Crime

Allegations of commercial crimes can be very complex, spanning many years and across jurisdictions.

White-collar crime lawyer Michael Bolton and his team have extensive experience successfully representing individuals, executives, directors and corporations in a full spectrum of white-collar criminal investigations and prosecutions. This work has involved criminal charges of alleged mail fraud, corruption, breach of trust, large-scale fraud and related matters, including:

Engaging a White-Collar Criminal Lawyer

The time to consult an experienced white-collar crime lawyer is when the investigator calls. Bolton Law’s goal is to take steps to avoid a criminal prosecution, and head charges off at an early stage. In some situations, the matter can be resolved before becoming public knowledge, reducing public exposure and potentially destructive media attention.

If matters proceed to criminal charges, Bolton Law is very well positioned to provide you with an effective defence. We will analyze the prosecutor’s evidence, demand full disclosure, assert all protective procedural rights, identify and pursue Charter of Rights issues, find and exploit the weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, and where appropriate, go to trial or negotiate a plea with the best outcome.

Our lawyers have ample experience dealing with US-based investigative bodies such as the FBI, DEA, IRS, FDA and OFAC (US Department of Treasury). We are also acutely familiar with the processes and practices of prosecuting US attorneys—and understand how to best protect clients against allegations of US-based white-collar crime.

CASES OF NOTE

R. v. Basi, Virk and Basi, 2007 BCSC 788 – Justice Bennett

corruption – disclosure
The defendants were charged with corruption and breach of trust. Although over 100,000 documents were already disclosed to the defence, there were failures to disclose many documents including officer notes and witness statements. Madam Justice Bennett held that the right to disclosure is a constitutionally protected right and the Crown is obliged to disclose everything it has to the defence, unless it is not relevant or is protected by privilege. Given the substantial failure to respect the disclosure rights of the accused, Madam Justice Bennett found that an order was the only way to ensure that a miscarriage of justice would not occur.

R. v. Donaldson, 1990 CanLii 630 BCCA – Justice E. Hinkson

conspiracy – fraud – wiretap
The accused were acquitted at their trial after the judge found that the Crown had been deceptive by stating they spoke to a “reliable, confidential source,” when in fact the police source was a wiretap. The Crown appealed the ruling. At the Court of Appeal, Justice Hinkson dismissed the Crown appeal after looking at the facts and deciding that approving this practice would bring the administration of justices into disrepute.